Steve Whan
Member for Monaro

MEDIA RELEASE

Cooma-Numeralla koala habitat restoration

Friday, 5 July 2024

The Southern Tablelands koala population has received a boost this year thanks to the planting of 12,900 trees across 40 hectares of national park estate in the Cooma-Numeralla area.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to restoring habitats, ecosystems, and biodiversity to protect koalas across NSW, so future generations will continue to be able to see these iconic native animals in the wild.

The seedlings, which include 23 different local native tree and shrub species, were recently planted at six sites in Dangelong, Coonartha and Undoo Nature Reserves.

They will help transform previously cleared, weedy areas into quality koala habitat supporting feed and shelter trees.

The recent work by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is in addition to the planting of 11,000 trees and shrubs last year and the removal of understorey weed infestations, such as blackberry, which inhibit koala movement through the landscape and access to food and shelter.

NPWS has afforded an extra level of protection by listing the reserves as "Koala Assets of Intergenerational Significance (AIS)" due to their exceptional habitat values, which means management activities that reduce threats to the koalas are prioritised. 

The Southern Tablelands region supports a koala population identified for priority protection under the NSW Koala Strategy. 

Quotes attributable to Member for Monaro Steve Whan:

"This work to restore koala habitat will be warmly welcomed by our community.

"The Minns Labor Government is investing in the future of koalas, to ensure generations to come will be able to see them in the wild.

"I look forward to seeing these seedlings grow into mature trees that help support our local koala population."